Noise, cheers, and waves of excitement rolled across the massive event square in the heart of the city. The Duke stood on the stage, smiling proudly like a king who had already won his throne; Katherina, meanwhile, watched him in helpless silence. The tension on her face could not hide the storm brewing inside her.
At the farthest edge of the crowd, unnoticed by anyone, stood two figures.
Shadow and Elryia.
Elryia's eyes shimmered with worry.
"Shadow… please," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You're the only one who can stop him. Please…"
Shadow lowered his head. Elryia's innocence, her plea, her desire for justice—all of it pressed heavily on his shoulders. He didn't want to accept it, but his heart had already made the decision.
He took a deep breath.
"Alright," he said firmly. "I'll do it."
As they tried to slip away from the square, steel guards blocked their path.
"By the Duke's orders, you will remain here," one of the guards said in a metallic tone. "You may not leave the area."
Shadow thought for a moment, then suddenly clutched his stomach.
"My friend… she has a stomachache," he said. "I need to take her to the restroom."
The guards exchanged looks. Finally, one nodded.
"Make it quick."
Shadow and Elryia slipped through the crowd, and the moment they turned the corner, they began to run.
Their destination was clear: the potion factory.
Shadow glanced at the girl beside him. He could sense the power Elryia carried… yet he himself had no real control over any abilities from this world. Something inside him was stirring, but he didn't know what it was.
When they approached the factory, the scene looked like a nightmare.
The surrounding walls were riddled with holes. Smoke rose into the sky, and the air reeked of gunpowder. In the distance, Lorian shouted hysterically, hurling command after command at his soldiers.
"Fire! Fire from everywhere! Don't stop!"
Dozens of soldiers unleashed bursts of gunfire at the factory. Inside, a bright dome shimmered—a magical barrier desperately trying to hold. Katherina's girls and the mages working inside were barely maintaining it.
Shadow rushed to Lorian, breathless.
"Lorian! Enough! Stop this!"
Lorian didn't even turn his head.
"I take orders only from the Duke, Shadow."
Elryia stepped forward in anger, her heart aching, her patience gone.
"What kind of man are you?! You're a monster! Stop hurting innocent lives!"
Lorian approached her mockingly.
"And who are you? You're nothing. A slave. You will never be happy or successful in your miserable life."
Before he could finish, Elryia tried to slap him, but Lorian shoved her to the ground.
That moment, something inside Shadow awakened.
A spark…
Then a crack…
And then a storm exploding outward, sending waves of violet energy across the ground.
The anger burning in Shadow's eyes was turning into raw power.
For the first time, Lorian stepped back.
But it was already too late.
Shadow lunged forward and drove his fist into Lorian's chest. Lorian shot ten meters backward, crashing into the dirt.
The soldiers froze in shock.
"Lorian is down! Fire!"
"Shoot the traitor!"
Gunfire roared. Shadow darted from side to side, dodging bullets. From the ground, black-violet tendrils burst forth, wrapping around Lorian's body. The tendrils crackled with fury as Shadow's shadow widened.
Panicked soldiers rushed in with swords and shields, shouting.
But it was useless.
Shadow's tendrils flung the first wave of soldiers like ragdolls.
At that moment, Katherina's girls' barrier was failing.
The girls joined hands, channeling their magic together.
"Protect Shadow!" one of them shouted.
A shimmering shield of gold and violet formed around him. Bullets bent off course and crashed harmlessly to the ground.
Shadow had become a full-fledged shadow beast.
Tendrils, punches, waves of power…
The battle raged on.
But in the end, the army was completely defeated.
The ground trembled, walls lay in ruins, and Lorian was crawling helplessly at Shadow's feet.
Shadow took one step forward.
The tendrils wrapped around Lorian's body.
Lorian was now Shadow's prisoner.
When the battle ended, Elryia healed her wounds with her magic. As Shadow approached her, she gave him a soft smile.
"You… were incredible," she whispered breathlessly. "Terrifying… but incredible."
Katherina's girls gathered around Shadow with sparkles in their eyes.
"This power… unbelievable."
"He'd make a perfect husband."
"How old are you, handsome?"
Elryia's eyebrows sank.
Her eyes narrowed.
She didn't like it.
Shadow stared in confusion, but Elryia stepped forward. With a shy blush glowing on her cheeks, she leaned in close to Shadow's face.
And placed a small kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you… for protecting me."
Shadow froze.
His heart raced, overwhelmed by his new powers and emotions swirling inside him.
Sparks of shadow still flickered around him.
And Lorian trembled in chains.
Shadow had stepped onto a path from which there was no return.
Chapter 10 – THE END